Abel's family? Spoiler alert

It had to do with the political situation. The Russians did not want to admit that Abel was their spy and they wanted him back, therefore their cover was that he had an East German wife and family that wanted him back. That way the East Germans were the ones negotiating his release. The catch was that the East Germans did not have anyone the U.S. wanted back badly enough to release Abel. Therefore the East Germans had to "negotiate" with the Russians to get them to release the U.S. pilot in exchange for Abel. The East Germans were just a front for the Russians, except that Donovan insisted they hand over the college kid who got caught behind the Berlin Wall in addition to the pilot.

Semper Contendere Propter Amoram et Formam
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